Coronation Anthems Program
Coronation Anthems
Saturday 29 March 2025 | 2:00pm
Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
Artists
MSO Chorus
Musicians of the MSO
Warren Trevelyan-Jones
conductor
Eden Shifroni soprano
Damian Arnold tenor
Jack Bolton bass
Program
George Frideric Handel
My Heart is Inditing – Coronation Anthem [9’]
Ralph Vaughan Williams
O Taste and See [2’]
Eden Shifroni, soprano
William McKie
We wait for thy loving kindness [3’]
Damian Arnold, tenor
Paul Mealor
Coronation Kyrie [2’]
Jack Bolton, bass
Handel
The King Shall Rejoice –Coronation Anthem [12’]
INTERVAL [20’]
Handel
Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened –Coronation Anthem [7’]
Roxanna Panufnik
Presented in collaboration with Melba Opera Trust
In consideration of your fellow patrons, the MSO thanks you for silencing and dimming the light on your phone
Coronation Sanctus [2’]
Tarik O’Regan
Coronation Agnus Dei [3’]
Thomas Weelkes
O Lord, grant the King a long life [3’]
Hubert Parry
I Was Glad [8’]
Handel
Zadok the Priest – Coronation Anthem [6’]
Running time: 1 hour and 35 minutes, including interval. Timings listed are approximate.
Acknowledging Country
In the first project of its kind in Australia, the MSO has developed a musical Acknowledgment of Country with music composed by Yorta Yorta composer Deborah Cheetham Fraillon ao, featuring Indigenous languages from across Victoria.
Generously supported by Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and the Commonwealth Government through the Australian National Commission for UNESCO, the MSO is working in partnership with Short Black Opera and Indigenous language custodians who are generously sharing their cultural knowledge.
The Acknowledgement of Country allows us to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which we perform in the language of that country and in the orchestral language of music.
About Long Time Living Here
As a Yorta Yorta/Yuin composer, the responsibility I carry to assist the MSO in delivering a respectful acknowledgement of country is a privilege which I take very seriously. I have a duty of care to my ancestors and to the ancestors on whose land the MSO works and performs. As the MSO continues to grow its knowledge and understanding of what it means to truly honour the First People of this land, the musical acknowledgment of country will serve to bring those on stage and those in the audience together in a moment of recognition as we celebrate the longest continuing cultures in the world.
—Deborah Cheetham Fraillon
ao
Our musical Acknowledgment of Country, Long Time Living Here by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon ao, is performed at MSO concerts.
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is Australia’s preeminent orchestra, dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that transcend borders and connect communities. Through the shared language of music, the MSO delivers performances of the highest standard, enriching lives and inspiring audiences across the globe.
Woven into the cultural fabric of Victoria and with a history spanning more than a century, the MSO reaches five million people annually through performances, TV, radio and online broadcasts, as well as critically acclaimed recordings from its newly established recording label.
In 2025, Jaime Martín continues to lead the Orchestra as Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor. Maestro Martín leads an Artistic Family that includes Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor—Learning and Engagement Benjamin Northey, Cybec Assistant Conductor Leonard Weiss, MSO Chorus Director Warren Trevelyan-Jones, Composer in Residence Liza Lim am, Artist in Residence James Ehnes, First Nations Creative Chair Deborah Cheetham Fraillon ao, Cybec Young Composer in Residence Klearhos Murphy, Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence James Henry, Artist in Residence, Learning & Engagement Karen Kyriakou, Young Artist in Association Christian Li, and Artistic Ambassadors Tan Dun, Lu Siqing and Xian Zhang.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra respectfully acknowledges the people of the Eastern Kulin Nations, on whose un‑ceded lands we honour the continuation of the oldest music practice in the world.
PHOTO: MARK GAMBINO
MSO Chorus
Celebrating 60 years of creating inspiring musical moments, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus gives voice to the Orchestra’s choral repertoire. The MSO Chorus has performed with the finest conductors including Jaime Martín, Sir Andrew Davis, Edward Gardner, Mark Wigglesworth, Bernard Labadie, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Xian Zhang, Nodoko Okisawa and Simon Halsey.
Committed to developing and performing new Australian and international choral repertoire, the MSO Chorus has commissioned works such as Brett Dean’s Katz und Spatz, Ross Edwards’ Mountain Chant, and Paul Stanhope’s Exile Lamentations, and its recordings have received critical acclaim. The Chorus has performed across Brazil and at the Cultura Inglese Festival in São Paolo, with the Australian Ballet and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, at the AFL Grand Final and at Anzac Day commemorative ceremonies.
Warren Trevelyan-Jones is regarded as one of the leading choral conductors and choir trainers in Australia. Chorus Director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since 2017, last year he was also appointed Chorus Master of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. From 2008 to 2024 he was Head of Music at St James’, King Street in Sydney, and under his leadership, the Choir of St James’ gained an international reputation through its regular choral services, orchestral masses, concert series, recordings, and interstate and international touring, as well as the commissioning of new works.
Before relocating to Australia in 2008, he enjoyed an extensive career as a vocal soloist and ensemble singer in
Warren
Trevelyan-Jones chorus director
Europe, including nine years in the Choir of Westminster Abbey, and regular work with the Gabrieli Consort, Collegium Vocale (Ghent), the Kings Consort, Dunedin Consort, the Sixteen, the Tallis Scholars and the Taverner Choir, Consort and Players. He has appeared on more 60 recordings and numerous TV and radio broadcasts, and in many of the worlds’ leading music festivals and concert halls.
Warren is a co-founder of the Consort of Melbourne and, in 2001 with Dr Michael Noone, he founded the Gramophone Award-winning group Ensemble Plus Ultra. He is also an experienced singing teacher and qualified music therapist.
PHOTO:
Sopranos
Choristers performing in this concert
Philippa Allen
Carolyn Archibald
Sheila Baker
Giselle Baulch
Eva Butcher
Aliz Cole
Michele de Courcy
Veryan Croggon
Samantha Davies
Anna Dvorakova
Keren Evans
Catherine Folley
Susan Fone
Carolyn Francis
Nicole Free
Karina Gough
Juliana Hassett
Penny Huggett
Gina Humphries
Tania Jacobs
Natasha Lambie
Judy Longbottom
Karin Otto
Amanda Powell
Beth Richardson
Jo Robin
Elizabeth Rusli
Julienne Seal
Fiona Seers
Fiona Steffensen
Elizabeth Tindall
Christa Tom
Altos
Margaret Arnold
Tes Benton
Catherine Bickell
Kate Bramley
Jane Brodie
Jacqueline Cheng
Alexandra Chubaty
Juliarna Clark
Marie Connett
Mari Eleanor
Claudia Funder
Sophia Gyger
Ros Harbison
Jennifer Henry
Kristine Hensel
Helen Hill
Yvonne Ho
Christina McCowan
Rosemary McKelvie
Helen MacLean
Natasha Pracejus
Alison Ralph
Kerry Roulston
Lisa Savige
Victoria Sdralis
Carol Silberberg
Jill Thomas
Libby Timcke
Tenors
James Allen
Adam Birch
Steve Burnett
Allan Chiang
James Dal-Ben
James Dipnall
Lyndon Horsburgh
Lilijana Matičevska
Michael Mobach
Jean-Francois Ravat
Colin Schultz
Cleve Schupp
Robert Simpson
Stewart Webb
Elliott Westbury
Stephen Wood
Basses
Kevin Barrell
David Bennett
Richard Bolitho
Roger Dargaville
Ted Davies
Peter Deane
Simon Evans
Elliott Gyger
Andrew Ham
John Hunt
Gary Levy
Douglas McQueenThomson
Tim March
Douglas Proctor
Stephen Pyk
Matthew Toulmin
Simon Wu
Raoul Zambelli
COMING UP WITH THE MSO CHORUS
Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor
Thursday 18 September at 7:30pm
Saturday 20 September at 2:00pm Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the MSO Chorus in a program of glorious large-scale choral works conducted by Nicholas Carter.
Journeys
Saturday 11 October at 7:30pm Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank Centre
The MSO Chorus explores music from the Renaissance to modern motets.
Eden Shifroni soprano
Eden Shifroni holds Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance) and Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) degrees from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2024, she won the Marianne Mathy Scholarship at the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition and was awarded the JSRB Foundation Award at the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award finals. In June she will make her Pinchgut Opera debut in Purcell’s Fairy Queen. As the recipient of the 2025 Alastair Jackson International Opera Award, she will commence an Artist Diploma in Opera at the Royal College of Music in September.
Eden is the current recipient of the Dame Nellie Melba Scholarship, Patrick & Vivian Gordon Award and Ryman Healthcare Opera Scholarship with Melba Opera Trust.
PHOTO: PHOEBE POWELL
Damian Arnold tenor Jack Bolton bass
Damian Arnold is a graduate of the Opera Studio at L’Opéra national du Rhin and the Opera School at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His professional engagements have included the title role in Candide in Strasbourg, Tebaldo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi) in Auckland, Ferrando (Così fan tutte) and Henry Crawford (Mansfield Park) in Oxford, and Camille (The Merry Widow) in Strasbourg and Canberra.
Damian was a 2017 Artist with Melba Opera Trust and subsequently received the 2023 Honor Sambrook Alumni Grant.
Jack Bolton recently completed a Bachelor of Music (Classical Voice Performance) degree at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. During his studies, Jack’s roles included the Judge (Philip Glass’s Orphée), Private Willis (Iolanthe) and Snug in scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream). For Brisbane’s Voxalis Opera, he has sung Masetto (scenes from Don Giovanni) as well as Giorgio Talbot and Sir Gualtiero Raleigh in the Donizetti adaptation, The Two Queens. In 2024 he received the Southern Cross Soloists’ Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship.
Jack is the current recipient of the John & Elizabeth Wright Smith Scholarship and the Annie McFarling Opera Scholarship with Melba Opera Trust.
PHOTO: PHOEBE POWELL
MSO musicians performing in this concert
First Violins
Tair Khisambeev
Acting Associate Concertmaster
Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio*
Sarah Curro
Dr Harry Imber*
Peter Fellin
Lorraine Hook
Mark Mogilevski
Second Violins
Jos Jonker
Associate Principal
Mary Allison
Tiffany Cheng
Glenn Sedgwick*
Cong Gu
Robert Macindoe
Roger Young
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan*
Violas
Anthony Chataway
Peter T Kempen AM*
William Clark
Morris and Helen Margolis*
Paul McMillan
Isabel Morse
Cellos
Rachael Tobin
Associate Principal
Rebecca Proietto
Peter T Kempen AM*
Caleb Wong
Michelle Wood
Double Basses
Benjamin Hanlon
Acting Assistant Principal
Rohan Dasika
Learn more about our musicians on the MSO website. * Position supported by
Oboes
Michael Pisani
Acting Associate Principal
Alexandra Allan
Bassoons
Elise Millman
Associate Principal
Natasha Thomas
Patricia Nilsson*
Trumpets
Shane Hooton
Associate Principal
Glenn Sedgwick*
Joel Walmsley
MSO Academy
Callum G’Froerer
Timpani
Matthew Thomas Principal
Organ
Timothy Mallis
Mindful, uplifting – life in the MSO Chorus
MSO Chorus member and MSO Guardian Lyndon Horsburgh writes…
I grew up in a musical household and learnt piano from an early age. In addition to my parents, I had a special aunt –a violinist and music teacher – who nurtured and encouraged my love of music. She kept at me to learn singing ‘properly’ – and thank goodness she did, because it was my singing teacher who led me to the Chorus! It was actually the prospect of performing in the newly renovated Hamer Hall that inspired me to audition and join, which I did in 2012.
It’s almost embarrassing the amount of repertoire I didn’t know when I first joined the Chorus. The discovery of so much music over time has really kept me motivated. While I tend to think that all our performances are wonderful, sometimes something truly magical and out-of-this-world happens, and that was the case recently for Mahler’s Symphony No.2 – one of my all-time favourites. And I’ve never performed Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor before, so I’m looking forward to that in September.
Being involved in the MSO Chorus has introduced me to new repertoire, lifelong friends and incredible experiences. It’s a mainstay in my day-to-day existence as well. When I’ve had a really fullon day at work I’m so relieved to shift focus onto something mindful, inspiring and uplifting at rehearsal. I love the opportunity to work with fabulous worldclass conductors and MSO collaborators, seeing my choir buddies on the regular, and being part of the MSO family.
I’ve made a bequest to the MSO because music is such a part of my life that I want that to be recognised. I know my aunt would be thrilled, too. I also like being part of the MSO Philanthropy world – the events that take place throughout the year, connecting with folks in the patron community. I like bringing friends along to patron events to help them start thinking about what their own plans might be. It’s surprising how often these things are on people’s minds, and I take great comfort in the fact that the decision’s been made, the arrangements are in place, and I can get on with life and enjoy the music!
Thanks to the generosity of individuals like Lyndon, the MSO and its Chorus continues to enrich all our lives through music. Visit mso.com.au/give to support your MSO.
PHOTO: LAURA MANARITI
Coronation Anthems
In 1710, the 25-year-old Handel began a new job as music director for the Elector of Hanover. He immediately deferred his appointment to spend eight months in London where his opera Rinaldo became a hit. On returning to Hanover, he was again granted leave(!), this time with the proviso that he return ‘within reasonable time’. In the end, Handel outstayed his leave but not his welcome.
Handel was still in England in 1714 when his employer assumed the English throne as George I. Within a few years, he’d completed his first royal commission: the Water Music suites. The next milestone was Handel’s naturalisation as a British subject and with it official appointment as a court composer in February 1727. Barely four months later, George I had died and when George II and Queen Caroline were crowned at Westminster Abbey on 11 October 1727, new music by Handel dominated the proceedings.
The 1727 coronation mixed traditional elements, music from previous coronations (Henry Purcell’s setting of ‘I was glad’, for example) and the new works by London’s musical celebrity. Handel’s coronation anthems were heard at different points in the ceremony –separated by fanfares, spoken liturgy, and other musical numbers – much in the manner of this evening’s program.
‘The four Handel anthems frame the concept,’ explains Warren TrevelyanJones. The ‘slightly more introverted’ anthems begin each half, while the more spectacular anthems take us into interval and the concert’s conclusion. That concept has been in discussion since 2023, the year of Charles III’s coronation, initially as an all-baroque program, before expanding to include music from the recent coronation. Three of those new works form a liturgical
sequence in miniature: a Kyrie (Christ have mercy, but sung in Welsh), followed after interval by a Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy) and Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). The Handel anthems were a special priority for the MSO Chorus, which has not performed all four in its 60-year history. The rest of the program is filled out with music composed for or first heard at the coronations of Queen Elizabeth II and Edward VII, as well as Charles III.
There’s one outlier: a simple but exquisite setting of verses from Psalm 48, ‘We wait for thy loving kindness’, by William McKie (1901–1984). This was written for the wedding ceremony of HRH
The Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1947; by the time of Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, its composer was director of music at Westminster Abbey. But McKie also brings a Melbourne connection: he was born here and was city organist at the Town Hall during the 1930s.
ORDER OF SERVICE – a listening guide
My Heart is Inditing was composed for the anointing and coronation of the queen and is gentler and more lyrical than Handel’s other coronation anthems. Even so, trumpets and drums bring a festive character.
‘O taste and see’ by Vaughan Williams was composed as a communion anthem for the coronation of Elizabeth II, bringing a moment of still reflection at the conclusion of three hours of pageantry. The sound of an unaccompanied soprano soloist floats into the space.
The second work in this meditative bracket is William McKie’s setting of ‘We wait for thy loving kindness’. Following a chantlike intonation from the
organ, the tenor soloist enters, again unaccompanied, offering an exciting contrast to the sound of the organ and chorus in full voice.
Paul Mealor’s Coronation Kyrie is the first of the works commissioned for Charles III. Most musical settings of the mass begin with Greek: ‘Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.’ Paul Mealor, a Welsh composer, set the words in his native language, a first for a British coronation. The Welsh connection was further emphasised by the soloist, Bryn Terfel. Mealor describes this tiny introspective piece as a blend between Gregorian chant and Cerdd Dant (Welsh Penillion singing), coloured by the harmonies of the great Welsh tunes.
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The King Shall Rejoice was performed following the crowning of the king and is suitably splendid and direct. Organised in four movements, the anthem concludes with a magnificent double fugue on the word ‘Alleluia’.
INTERVAL
Let Thy Hand be Strengthened would have preceded the Litany and, as with My Heart is Inditing, it offers a gentler character with lighter textures. (This is the only one of the four anthems in which trumpets and drums do not play.)
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Roxanna Panufnik’s Coronation Sanctus returns us to the 2023 coronation. This short but flamboyant piece for double choir and organ introduces contemporary harmonic colours for celestial effect. It begins ‘a little mysteriously,’ writes the composer, ‘in an atmosphere of awe and wonderment as Isaiah describes his vision of heaven.’ The music then rapidly builds to an ecstatic conclusion.
The Coronation Agnus Dei by Tarik O’Regan conveys the intimate, reflective
space of communion. The text is a prayer for peace – relevant well beyond the context of Christian liturgy. Tarik found inspiration in a tradition found in both the Algerian folk music of his childhood and Irish ceilidh bands: ‘They’re basically all playing the same melody, but it’s never quite exact, so it creates this texture and depth.’ The result is a simple, beautiful phrase that ‘breaks apart’ while the organ captures the resulting resonances before it all comes back together.
From music of this decade we jump to the oldest work in the program, an a cappella anthem ‘suitable for royal anniversaries’ by Tudor composer and organist Thomas Weelkes. The text ‘O Lord, grant the King a long life’ was heard alongside Handel’s anthems in the 1727 coronation, but in a setting by 17th-century composer William Child. Weelkes’ earlier setting was fated not to be heard in a coronation until the 400th anniversary of his death, when it was selected for Charles III.
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I Was Glad by Hubert Parry was written for Edward VII in 1902, expanded to thrilling effect for George V in 1911, and has become a beloved fixture in British coronations, chosen for Elizabeth II as well as Charles III, as well as royal weddings and jubilees.
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Zadok the Priest, for the anointing of the king, is the only musical work to have been performed at every British coronation since 1727. It begins quietly in the orchestra with a simple, pulsing accompaniment, from which it inexorably builds over the course of the first minuteand-a-half, before the chorus enters in all its exhilarating power. Handel had 50 voices at his disposal – he would surely have envied us our 90!
Yvonne Frindle © 2025
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David and Geraldine Glenny
Hugo and Diane Goetze
The late George Hampel AM KC and Felicity Hampel AM SC
Alison Heard
Dr Jennifer Henry
C M Herd Endowment
Carole and Kenneth Hinchliff
William Holder
Peter and Jenny Hordern
Gillian Horwood
Oliver Hutton
Rob Jackson
Ian Jamieson
Linda Jones
Leonora Kearney
Jennifer Kearney
John Keys
Leslie King
Dr Judith Kinnear
Katherine Kirby
Professor David Knowles and Dr Anne McLachlan
Heather Law
Peter Letts
Helen MacLean
Sandra Masel in memory of Leigh Masel
Janice Mayfield
Gail McKay
Jennifer McKean
Shirley A McKenzie
Richard McNeill
Marie Misiurak
Joan Mullumby
Adrian and Louise Nelson
Marian Neumann
Ed Newbigin
Valerie Newman
Dr Judith S Nimmo
Amanda O’Brien
Brendan O’Donnell
Phil Parker
Sarah Patterson
The Hon Chris Pearce and Andrea Pearce
William Ramirez
Geoffrey Ravenscroft
Dr Christopher Rees
Professor John Rickard
Fred and Patricia Russell
Carolyn Sanders
Julia Schlapp
Madeline Soloveychik
Tom Sykes
Allison Taylor
Hugh and Elizabeth Taylor
Geoffrey Thomlinson
Mely Tjandra
Noel and Jenny Turnbull
Rosemary Warnock
Amanda Watson
Michael Whishaw
Deborah and Dr Kevin Whithear OAM
Adrian Wigney
David Willersdorf AM and Linda Willersdorf
Charles and Jill Wright
Richard Ye
Anonymous (12)
Future MSO ($1,000+)
Shayna Burns
Jessica Agoston Cleary
Alexandra Champion de Crespigny
Josh Chye
Akira Kikkawa
Jayde Walker
Demetrio Zema
MSO Guardians
Jenny Anderson
David Angelovich
Lesley Bawden
Peter Berry and Amanda Quirk
Tarna Bibron
Joyce Bown
Patricia A Breslin
B J Brown
Jenny Brukner and the late John Brukner
Sarah Bullen
Peter A Caldwell
Luci and Ron Chambers
Sandra Dent
Sophie E Dougall in memory of Libby Harold
Alan Egan JP
Gunta Eglite
Marguerite Garnon-Williams
Dr Clem Gruen and Dr Rhyl Wade
Louis J Hamon OAM
Charles Hardman and Julianne Bambacas
Carol Hay
Dr Jennifer Henry
Graham Hogarth
Rod Home
Lyndon Horsburgh
Katherine Horwood
Tony Howe
Lindsay Wynne Jacombs
Michael Christopher Scott Jacombs
John Jones
Merv Keehn and Sue Harlow
Pauline and David Lawton
Robyn and Maurice Lichter
Christopher Menz and Peter Rose
Cameron Mowat
Laurence O’Keefe and Christopher James
David Orr
Matthew O’Sullivan
Rosia Pasteur
Kerryn Pratchett
Penny Rawlins
Margaret Riches
Anne Roussac-Hoyne and Neil Roussac
Michael Ryan and Wendy Mead
Anne Kieni Serpell and Andrew Serpell
Jennifer Shepherd
Suzette Sherazee
Professors Gabriela and George
Stephenson
Pamela Swansson
Frank Tisher OAM and Dr Miriam Tisher
Mr and Mrs R P Trebilcock
Christina Helen Turner
Michael Ullmer AO
The Hon Rosemary Varty
Francis Vergona
Tam Vu and Dr Cherilyn Tillman
Robert Weiss and Jacqueline Orian
Terry Wills Cooke OAM and the late Marian
Wills Cooke
Mark Young
Anonymous (17)
The MSO gratefully acknowledges the support of the following Estates:
Norma Ruth Atwell
Angela Beagley
Barbara Bobbe
Michael Francois Boyt
Christine Mary Bridgart
Margaret Anne Brien
Ken Bullen
Deidre and Malcolm Carkeek
Elizabeth Ann Cousins
The Cuming Bequest
Margaret Davies
Blair Doig Dixon
Neilma Gantner
Angela Felicity Glover
The Hon Dr Alan Goldberg AO QC
Derek John Grantham
Delina Victoria Schembri-Hardy
Enid Florence Hookey
Gwen Hunt
Family and Friends of James Jacoby
Audrey Jenkins
Joan Jones
Pauline Marie Johnston
George and Grace Kass
Christine Mary Kellam
C P Kemp
Jennifer Selina Laurent
Sylvia Rose Lavelle
Dr Elizabeth Ann Lewis AM
Peter Forbes MacLaren
Joan Winsome Maslen
Lorraine Maxine Meldrum
Professor Andrew McCredie
Jean Moore
Joan P Robinson
Maxwell and Jill Schultz
Miss Sheila Scotter AM MBE
Marion A I H M Spence
Molly Stephens
Gwennyth St John
Halinka Tarczynska-Fiddian
Jennifer May Teague
Elisabeth Turner
Albert Henry Ullin
Jean Tweedie
Herta and Fred B Vogel
Dorothy Wood
Joyce Winsome Woodroffe
Commissioning Circle
Cecilie Hall and the Late Hon Michael Watt KC
Tim and Lyn Edward
Liza Lim AM
First Nations Circle
John and Lorraine Bates
Equity Trustees
Elizabeth Proust AO and Brian Lawrence
Guy Ross
Sage Foundation
Adopt a Musician
Margaret Billson and the late Ted Billson
Ann Blackburn, Jenny Khafagi
Shane Buggle and Rosie Callanan
Roger Young
Andrew Dudgeon AM
Rohan de Korte, Philippa West
Tim and Lyn Edward
John Arcaro
Dr John and Diana Frew
Rosie Turner
Dr Mary-Jane Gething AO
Monica Curro
The Gross Foundation
Matthew Tomkins
Dr Clem Gruen and Dr Rhyl Wade
Robert Cossom
Jean Hadges
Prudence Davis
Cecilie Hall
Patrick Wong
Cecilie Hall and the late Hon Michael Watt KC
Saul Lewis
The Hanlon Foundation
Abbey Edlin
David Horowicz
Anne‑Marie Johnson
Dr Harry Imber
Sarah Curro, Jack Schiller
Margaret Jackson AC
Nicolas Fleury
Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio
Elina Fashki, Tair Khisambeev,
Christopher Moore
Peter T Kempen AM
Anthony Chataway, Rebecca Proietto
Pauline and David Lawton
Yinuo Mu
Morris and Helen Margolis
William Clark
Rosemary and the late Douglas Meagher
Craig Hill
Professor Gary McPherson
Rachel Shaw
Anne Neil
Eleanor Mancini
Patricia Nilsson
Natasha Thomas
Glenn Sedgwick
Tiffany Cheng, Shane Hooton
The MSO relies on your ongoing philanthropic support to sustain our artists, and support access, education, community engagement and more. We invite our supporters to get close to the MSO through a range of special events.
The MSO welcomes your support at any level. Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible, and supporters are recognised as follows:
$500+ (Overture)
$1,000+ (Player)
$2,500+ (Associate)
$5,000+ (Principal)
$10,000+ (Maestro)
$20,000+ (Impresario)
$50,000+ (Virtuoso)
$100,000+ (Platinum)
Listing current as of 18 March 2025
Honorary Appointments
Chair Emeritus
Dr David Li AM
Life Members
John Gandel AC and Pauline Gandel AC
Jean Hadges
Sir Elton John CBE
Lady Primrose Potter AC CMRI
Jeanne Pratt AC
Lady Marigold Southey AC
Michael Ullmer AO and Jenny Ullmer
MSO Ambassador
Geoffrey Rush AC
The MSO honours the memory of Life Members
The late Marc Besen AC and the late Eva Besen AO
John Brockman OAM
The Honourable Alan Goldberg AO QC
Harold Mitchell AC
Roger Riordan AM
Ila Vanrenen
MSO Board
Chair
Edgar Myer
Co-Deputy Chairs
Martin Foley
Farrel Meltzer
Board Directors
Shane Buggle
Lorraine Hook
Margaret Jackson AC
Gary McPherson
Mary Waldron
Company Secretary
Randal Williams
MSO Artistic Family
Jaime Martín
Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor
Benjamin Northey
Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor –Learning and Engagement
Leonard Weiss CF Cybec Assistant Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis CBE †
Conductor Laureate (2013–2024)
Hiroyuki Iwaki †
Conductor Laureate (1974–2006)
Warren Trevelyan-Jones
MSO Chorus Director
James Ehnes
Artist in Residence
Karen Kyriakou
Artist in Residence, Learning and Engagement
Christian Li
Young Artist in Association
Liza Lim Composer in Residence
Klearhos Murphy
Cybec Young Composer in Residence
James Henry
Cybec First Nations Composer in Residence
Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO
First Nations Creative Chair
Artistic Ambassadors
Xian Zhang
Lu Siqing
Tan Dun
Sidney Myer MSO Trust Fund Freemasons
